Saint Michael's College

Division of Edmundite Mission

The Division of Edmundite Mission blog is a resource for the Saint Michael’s College community to share what it means for Saint Michael’s to be Catholic and preserve the legacy of the Society of Saint Edmund’s, the College’s founding order.

This weekly blog will explore themes of higher education, religion, service and more as a way to explore the College’s identity.

Beyond the Universal: Why Catholicity Matters for Inclusion

When we talk about inclusion today, whether in education, the workplace, or the wider culture, we often appeal to what is “universal.” We invoke universal human rights, universal values, or […]

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and the Catholic Vision of Universality

I recently attended a presentation on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by Emiliano Void, founder and CEO of nuwave Corporation, here at Saint Michael’s College. His presentation was one of the […]

Marked Bodies, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Future of DEI

From its very beginning, Christianity has affirmed a startling truth: the eternal Word of God became flesh, not in some generic human form, but in the marked, particular body of […]

Viewpoint Diversity, Social Justice, and DEI: A Catholic College’s Way Forward Part II

Last week, I wrote about the rising push from federal officials and legislators to enforce “viewpoint diversity” on college campuses. Some proposals even tie federal funding to ideological audits or […]

Viewpoint Diversity, Social Justice, and DEI: A Catholic College’s Way Forward Part I

“Viewpoint diversity” has moved from campus debate to public policy. As Inside Higher Ed reported on September 2, 2025, federal officials and conservative legislators are pressing universities to demonstrate “viewpoint […]

Why the Movement Away from DEI Is Inherently Wrong and Harmful

Across the U.S., schools and public institutions are being pressed to abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The justification is often framed in positive terms: to avoid “divisiveness,” to […]

Justice, Mercy, and Inclusion in a Time of Debate

At this moment in American life, conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are charged with controversy. Across the country, legislators, business leaders, and university administrators are reassessing or even […]

Confronting the Masking of Belief and the Crisis of Nihilism on Campus

Commentators have noticed a curious trend among college students in the United States. While progressive frameworks dominate much of higher education—shaping classroom discussion, faculty research agendas, and campus activism—there is […]

The Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Social Justice: An Antidote to Exclusion in Higher Education

Critics often charge that higher education in the United States has become elitist and overwhelmingly progressive, fostering an environment where students who hold more conservative views feel the need to mask their […]

Our Common Home: Pope Francis and the Urgent Call of Laudato Si’

When Pope Francis released his encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home in 2015, he did more than add another papal voice to the conversation about environmental responsibility. […]

The Popes and the Planet: How Catholic Teaching on the Environment Evolved

In the first part of this series concerning the environment, we explored how the Catholic call to care for creation is rooted in Scripture, particularly the Genesis account of stewardship […]

Principle Seven: Care for God’s Creation

One of the most urgent and spiritually resonant themes of Catholic Social Teaching is the seventh: Care for God’s Creation. This principle, affirmed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, […]

No Frontiers: Solidarity and the Poor of the Global South

At a Catholic college in Vermont, where forested mountains surround us and the seasons mark the passing of time with crisp clarity, it’s easy to think of the earth as […]

Solidarity: Standing with Others in Their Efforts to Achieve Justice

The sixth principle of Catholic social teaching is solidarity, the call to stand with others in their efforts to achieve justice. More than empathy and more than charity, solidarity is […]

A Line Too Low: Rethinking Poverty and Just Wages in Light of Catholic Social Teaching

At Saint Michael’s College, rooted in the tradition of the Society of Saint Edmund, we take seriously the call to build a more just and compassionate society. This call is […]

The Right to Organize: Catholic Social Teaching and the Dignity of Workers

At a Catholic college rooted in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, we are called not only to study justice but to practice it. One area where this commitment becomes […]

From Rerum Novarum to Nova Rerum: The Dignity of Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

When Pope Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum in 1891, he did so at a moment of profound economic upheaval. The Industrial Revolution was transforming society, displacing workers, and raising new […]

Work with Dignity: Participating in God’s Ongoing Creation

At Saint Michael’s College, we are called not only to academic excellence but also to a moral and spiritual reflection on the pressing issues of our time. One such issue—central […]

The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: Empowering Voices, Not Silencing Them

The fourth principle of Catholic Social Teaching, the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, challenges us not merely to assist those in need but to stand with them in their […]

Principle Four: The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

A Catholic Social Teaching for a Diverse and Inclusive Community One of the core principles of Catholic social teaching is the option for the poor and vulnerable. From the earliest […]

Justice Must Be Shared: Rights, Responsibilities, and the Call for Timely Justice

At the heart of Catholic Social Teaching lies a profound principle: human rights must always be accompanied by responsibilities. This third foundational tenet reminds us that every person has a […]

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The Common Good and the Care for Each: A Catholic Approach to Diversity and Inclusion

At Saint Michael’s College, the pursuit of the common good is not merely a theological concept. It is a daily task and a communal responsibility. Catholic Social Teaching defines the […]

When Rights Go It Alone: Reclaiming the Common Good in a Culture of Individualism

In our contemporary society, the language of rights is everywhere. Legal systems, political debates, and cultural movements all revolve around affirming individual rights. Many people believe that the primary obligation […]

Rights in Real Life: Catholic Responsibility in a Divided World

In our previous blog, we explored the Catholic Social Teaching principle of rights and responsibilities in light of the common good. We affirmed that human rights, such as access to […]

Principle Three: Rights and Responsibilities and the “Common Good”

In Catholic social teaching, the idea of the “common good” is more than a noble aspiration. It is a foundational principle that shapes how we live together in society. Rooted […]

The Hermeneutic of Pope Francis: Reading Scripture with Mercy, Accompaniment, and Justice

The previous blog focused on the second principle of Catholic Social justice: Call to family, community, and participation. In the blog, the call of Cardinal McElroy for the Catholic Church […]

Principle Two: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

The second principle of Catholic social justice promotes the importance of family and community. Likewise, the principle recognizes that individuals have a right and a duty to participate in both. […]

The Life and Dignity of the Human Person in the Context of Life’s Realities

I feel compelled to say something more about the first Catholic principle of social justice: life and the dignity of human life. What is driving this compulsion is the present […]

Ripples on the Water: Life, Dignity, and the Beauty of Human Difference

The first principle of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) as taught by the U.S. bishops is simple in its clarity, yet profound in its implications: the life and dignity of the […]

Principle One: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Last week, I introduced the seven Catholic principles of social justice, rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). As I have noted in previous blogs, these principles […]

Understanding Catholic Social Teaching: A Guide for Our College Community

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) has deep roots in scripture, tradition, and centuries of Church thought. CST formally began with Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical, Rerum Novarum (“On the Condition of Labor”), […]

Catholic Social Teaching and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Partners in Justice for All

At Saint Michael’s College, we are committed to being a community where all people feel welcome, valued, and respected. In working toward that goal, we recognize that Diversity, Equity, and […]

Faith in Action: CST and DEI Hand-in-Hand at Saint Michael’s College

In the spirit of authentic Catholic identity, Saint Michael’s College affirms that faith is not merely a private matter but rather the foundational heart of our community, guiding our pursuit […]

The “Catholic Difference” of Saint Michael’s College

Over the past few weeks, I have been replying to questions posed by students who have been emailing me with comments and questions about the blogs that I posted. This […]

“In the Light of the Catholic Faith”: Encountering Each Other In Conversation

In the last blog, I observed that it eventually would become the responsibility of the administration, the faculty, and the staff of Saint Michael’s College to ensure the catholicity of […]

The Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic Pedagogy

We often speak about the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT) and indeed have integrated CIT into the curriculum of Saint Michael’s College. Monika Hellwig, to whom many in contemporary Catholic education […]

Preserving the Education of Students “In the Light of the Catholic Faith”

In a previous blog, I noted the significant change that took place at Saint Michael’s College in the late 1960s, following the publication of the “Land O’ Lakes Statement.” For […]

A Place to Call Home in the Midst of Difference

In my last blog, I noted how Catholic higher education can be home to a diverse population of people, all of whom can be considered guests of the College. Diversity […]

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Saint Michael’s College: Catholic in What Sense?

In the last blog, I noted that Society of Saint Edmund (Edmundites) founded Saint Michael’s College as a Catholic college. It was also noted that Dr. Reiss, the fourteenth president […]

What’s in a Name? The Catholic identity of Saint Michael’s College

Saint Michael’s College was established as a Catholic college in 1904. Ever since, the College has operated as a Catholic institution of higher education in Vermont, and this has been […]

Fostering What is Unique about Saint Michael’s College

Last summer, President Richard Plumb asked me to take on the inaugural position of Vice President of the Office of Edmundite Mission. Dr. Plumb decided to create the position and […]